Decorticating-machine.



lNo. 852,377. PATENTBD A1 R.3o, 1907. c. NgDAvIS.

DBGORTICATING MACHINE.

APPLIOATION FILED Dnc. 19. 1904.

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No. 852,377. PATENTBD APR. 30, 1907. I G. N. DAVIS.

DECORTIGATING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED DBO. 19. 1904.

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PATENTED APR. 30, 1907.

G. N. DAVIS. DECORTICATING MACHINE.

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Gl Nn DBCORTIGATING MACHINE.

APPLIoATIoN FILED 13110.19, 1904.

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maven D c UNITED `STATES PATENT OFFICE..A

CHARLES NORMAN DAVIS, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR, BY DIRECT AND MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, OF ONE-HALF TO CHARLES LEFFLER, OF BROOK- LYN, NEW YORK, AND ON E-IfIALF TO INTERNATIONAL FIBRE COMPANY, OF PORTLAND, MAINE, A CORPORATION OF MAINE.

DECORTlCATlNG-NIACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented April 30, 1907.

Application filed December 19, 1904. Serial No. 237,394.

1'0 all ww'm, it' may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES N ORMAN Davis, a citizen of the United States of America, and a resident of the borough of Brooklyn, city of New York, county of Kings, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Decorticating-Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improvement in liber decorticating machines, or machines for separating fiber, the same being .intended for use with Pita fiber, Mexican liber, sisal, ramie, jute, or any other similar fibers or products, grown or produced in any country, for the purpose of stripping or dividing the leaves of the same into long threads or strings, thus separating the 'fiber from the pulp of the leaves or stalks of the plant.

The machine consists in the combination and arrangement of parts and in various details and peculiarities thereof for accomplishing the end in view with facility and despatch, through the operation of novel mechanism and the coaction of the various elements, substantially as will be hereinafter described and then fully pointed out in the ensuing claims.

In the accompanying drawings illustrating my invention., Figure 1 is a top plan view of my improved fiber separating machine. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is a transverse section. Fig. 4 is a detail inside view of one of the internal bevel friction casings. Fig. 5 is a cross section of the same on the line fr :c of Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail view in partial section of one of the grooved stripping rollers. Fig. 7 is a detail view of one of the roller surfaced feeding drum which constitute a portion of the feeding and delivering devices. Fig. S is a central longitudinal section of the machine.

Similar numerals of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the different figures of the drawing.

1 denotes the main frame of my improved Vliber decorticating machine, which may be of any suitable shape, size and form to accommodate therein the various mechanical elements which are organized together for performing the purpose I have in view. The upper portion of the frame 1 provides a table or bed 45a on which the fibrous material is placed and over which it is carried. Secured by means of bolts, or otherwise, to the sides of the main frame 1 are the longitudinal frames 46, located parallel to each other, see Fig. 1, and in which certain of the parts are supported.

Journaled in the side frames 46 at one end of the machine is the shaft 14 of a roller 12 having thereon a rubber or other elastic surface 13, said roller being a feed roller and serving to 'feed the leaves or stalks of the plants into the machine. Directly below this feed roller 12il is a feeding and bearing drum the surfaceof which is formed of freely turning rollers, which is shown in detail in Fig. 7 and which consists essentially of a stationary cylinder 15'l around which is a cage composed of rollers 1.6L supported at their ends in rings 17, said rings encircling cylinder 15"" and revolving thereon, there being preferably balls at the ends of the rollers, and the entire bearing being self-contained and in one combination. The fiber is fed between the rubber-faced roller 12'LL and the opposing drum, said roller working close to the drum, and thus the two together cmistituting a feeding device for carrying the liber straight into the machine and pressing and flattening it be- Vfore it is delivered to the separating and stripping rollers. At the other end of the machine a shaft 14 is journaled in the side frames 46, said shaft carrying a roller 12 similar to the roller 1TL and provided with a rubber or other elastic surface or facing 13, similar to the rubber surface 15am. Below this roller is a drum having a surface preferably consisting of a plurality of horizontal rollers 16 supported in the end rings 17, similar to the drum which is used at the other end of the machine in connection with the roller 122l at that point. Thus the rubber-faced roller 1.2 acts inconjunction with a drum similarly to the operation of the roller 12 in conjunction with the drum beneath it, the object of the roller couple consisting ol.'Y the revolving roller surfaced drum and the .roller 12 being to deliver the threads or strands of 'liber after they have been formed and cleaned during their passage through the machine, said delivery taking place in any desired manner and at any point, either upon the table 45 or at a place where the -liber strands IOO can be taken out for further operations in other kinds of machinery.

The roller 12, having the shaft 14 suitably journaled at each end, as we have seen, carries at one end a sprocket wheel 1l, and at the other end a sprocket wheel 18. Also, the shaft 14a of the feed roller 12l has at one end a sprocket-wheel 20. A chain 19 passes around the two sprocket wheels 18 and 20 and enables motion. to be communicated from sprocket-wheel 18 to sprocket wheel 20, and thus from the shaft 14 to the shaft 14a. Likewise a chain 10 passes around the sprocket wheel 11, and also around a sprocket wheel 9 located on the shaft 5 of a crushing cylinder 2, said shaft 5 being journaled in the side frames 46. On the shaft 5 is likewise a drive pulley 4, which receives its power from some suitable source of power and is driven at any desired speed.

The cylinder 2 acts in conjunction with a similar cylinder 3, whose shaft 6 is journaled in the main frame 1 vertically below the shaft 5. Thus the two crushing cylinders 2 and 3 revolve in close proximity to each other and receive the fiber after it has been separated into threads, and they operate to express therefrom all the natural juice or liquid, thereby cleaning it and freeing it from disadvantageous matter, so as to fit and prepare it for the further processes to which it is to be given. On the shaft of the upper crushing roller 5 is a gear wheel 7 and on the shaft of the lower crushing cylinder 3 is a gear-wheel 8, the two gear wheels 7 and 8 meshing with each other, as shown in Fig. 2, so that the upper gear 7 may drive the lower gear 8 and thus the two crushing cylinders be positively actuated in opposite directions in such a manner that the fiber introduced between them will be fed forward.

I will now explain the means for stripping or separating the fiber leaves into shreds or strips. Said means consists primarily of revolving frames, each having a plurality of rollers, all the rollers being suitably geared so that each one may have a positive actuation. There is such an upper plural roller device and a lower one, and the rollers of one act in close proximity to the rollers of the other, either directly opposite to each other one being vertically beneath the other, as shown in Fig. 2, or the rollers coming into an alternate or meshing association, where one of one set will be between two of the other set, like cogs, but not touching, there being a small space between them so that the fiber may be thus caught and divided into threads or strips. Each roller is provided with a series of parallel circular grtpoves separated by circular projections or r1 s.

23 denotes the shaft of the upper roller device, the same being journaled in ball bearings 23a in the uprights 27 and 28 of the longitudinal frames 46, as shown in Fig. 3. On the shaft 23 is a driving pulley 22. usually be driven at a different rate of speed from that of the drive pulley 4 and faster. On the shaft 23 is bolted or otherwise firmly secured two heads or disks 29 and 30, and in these the stripping rollers 34 are supported. Each roller, like the one shown in detail in Fig. 6, is provided with a series of grooves and ribs parallel to each other, covering the entire surface of the roller, and is furnished with a shaft 35 which is suitably j ournaled in bearings in the heads 29 and 30, said bearings being preferably ball bearings. On one end of the roller shaft 35 is a bevelfaced friction pinion 36. One of the ball bearings for shaft 35 is indicated in 37 in Fig. 6. Here, against the end of the shaft 35, is a ball against which bears an adjusting screw 38, the obj ect of the screw being to adjust the friction pinion 36 against the casing by adjusting the shaft 35 endwise.

There may be any number of the stripping rollers 34 and they may be of any size. In the example of the invention shown in the drawings, I have indicated nine as a suitable number, (for the upper, as also the lower, set), though l do not wish to be restricted to any number. Secured to the upright 28 in any suitable manner, as for instance by means of projections 47 fastened to upright 28, or to the frame, is an internal bevel friction casing, preferably a skeleton frame, and consisting, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5, of the ring 33 having a flange 31 with an inner bevel face 32; or, instead of being a ring as 33, the casing may be made as a solid disk with only a central hole for the passage of the shaft 23, as shown in Fig. 3. The bevel friction pinions 36 belonging to the series of rollers of the upper roller device engage the bevel face 32, and as the shaft 23 revolves, the frictional contact of the pinions with the bevel face 32 causes each of thev stripping rollers 34 to revolve with a positive movement on its own axis, this being necessary to take the friction off the axis.

Below the upper roller device which I have just been describing is a similar revolving device, consisting of the shaft 26 supported in ballbearings 49 in the sides of the main frame 1, see Fig. 3. Said shaft 26 has secured thereon circular heads or disks 4() and 41, in which is journaled a series of stripping rollers 34, each having a shaft 35 on which is a friction pinion 36, and the various friction pinions 36 engage the inner bevel face 32 of the stationary casing 39, similar to the ring 33, which casing 39 is fastened rigidly to the main frame. On the shaft 26 is a gear wheel 25 which meshes with and is driven by the gear wheel 24 on the end of the shaft 23 of the upper roller device. Thus it will be seen that when power is applied to the drive pulley 22 these upper and lower revolving de- This will IOO IOS

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vices carrying each a plurality of rollers will rotate and each roller will have an independent revolution on its own axis, and the direction of revolution of the upper and lower frames will be opposite to the direction of independent rotation of the individual rollers. The lower revolving device has the same number of rollers as the upper one, consequently during the revolution of these roller-carrying frames, an upper and a lower roller 34 will be brought opposite to each other successively and in close proximity, and will receive the fiber leaves from the feeding couple, and the grooves and ribs in the rollers 34 will act to strip the fiber into threads or fibrous divisions. These roller couples, of course, in the operation of the machine will follow each other in extremely quick succession, and as their members revolve in opposite directions, as shown by the arrows, the result of the action of the proximate ribs and groovesupon the fiber will be to tear the leaf into long strips or threads. Said fibrous strings or threads will be delivered to the crushing rollers 2 and 3.

By mounting the stripping rollers as described, that is, so that each rotates with a positive .movement on its own axis while being bodily revolved about the axis of the frame or carrier for the series of stripping rollers, the friction incident to the stripping operations is very much reduced and the leaves of the plants are moved through the machine easily and without danger' of being subjected to damaging strains or friction.

The advance of the leaves through the machine is maintained by means of the feed couple and the mechanism on the other side of the stripping rollers, aswell as by the stripping rollers themselves. Although the individual rotation of the rollers is in a direction reverse to that of the movement of the material, yet the serial revolution of the rollers is forward, or in the same direction as the movement of the material.

The heads or disks 29, 30, and 40, 41 are preferably peripherally indented between the bearings for rollers 34, as shown at 5() in Fig. 2, the indent being deep or shallow as desired, the object thereof being to afford plenty of room for the introducing and bending of the fibrous material during the operation of the rollers 34 in slitting and suhdividing the same. Obviously, therefore, these heads or disks 29, 30, 40, L ll are simply for the purpose of properly supporting thej ournaled ends of the rollers at a proper distance from the axis of revolution of the frame carrying the rollers, and hence their precise construction may vary within wide limits, being as light or as heavy as circumstances demand. Furthermore, each roller 34 has two motions, one a revolution which carries it bodily around the axis of rotation of the frame, the other an independent revolution on its own axis 5 and it will be seen that the roller-carrying frames revolve in reverse directions as indicated by the arrows in Fig. 2, though both revolve forwardly; and that the rollers carried by each frame all revolve in the same direction, which is a direction reverse to the direction of rotation of the frame carrying said rollers. rFinis, considering any two rollers, one of the upper set and one of the lower, which may be opposite each other at any one time and simultaneously acting upon opposite sides of the leaf, see Fig. 2, it will be understood that these rollers rotate in opposite directions, and both revolve backuuirdly, and relieve the friction on the leaf.

In the operation of the machine the fiber leaves or stalksare fed from the table 45 at the left hand end of the machine, between the elastic-surfaced feed roller and the rollersurfaced bearing and delivered to the small stripping rollers 34. The combination of the drum 16@l and the rubber-faced roller makes a successful feeder and the leaf of the fiber will run straight through at a high speed, caused by the rubber sinking into the spaces between the rollers of the bearing, and, as these rollers are horizontal and revolve truly, the rubber roller will cause the leaf to be fed straight and if it should start crooked in any way it will immediately be straightened and carried to the rollers 34. The latter beat and pound the fiber and the ribs eut into the leaf, separating the fiber ofthe same and subdividing it into strips or strings. At the same time the pulp is being pounded out of the leaves and loosened from the fiber. If the rollers 34 were not positive ly-actuated by a friction gear, but were revolved through the frictional action of the leaf thereon, the leaf would be apt to be torn and the .fiber seriously damaged. Une important feature of my invention, therefore, is to pass the leaves through the machine without an undue amount of friction. The subdivided fiber is immediately introduced between the crushing rollers 2 and 3 and by them the operation of expressing the -juices is performed and the fiber cleaned, and when it leaves these crushing rollers and passes between the final delivering roller l2 and the drum 15, 1G it will be ready for such subsequent operations as the practice of the art may require to be performed thereon. l

Although I do not wish to be restricted to making the .machine out of any particular metal or material, `vet, all the rollers and other mechanical parts which come into contact with the acid of the 'liber uiee ought to be made of brass or aluminium, though, of course, I reserve the liberty of making them out of other materials if I should so desire.

The speeds at which the various parts of `the machine are driven may be regulated to produce the best results as experience dem- IOO onstrates. This is permissible since the crushing rollers and the stripping rollers are independently driven.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Iletters Patent, is z# 1, In a machine for separating fiber, a series of upper rollers disposed about a common axis, and each being free to rotate on its own axis, carriers in which the said series of rollers are mounted, and means for revolving the said carriers in combination with a lower series of rollers mounted in carriers and free to have a similar double revolution, the members of one series acting in conjunction with the members of the other series to receive the material between them without friction and subdivide the same.

2. In a machine for separating fiber, the combination of a circular series of rollers each free to revolve on its own axis, carriers for the said series of rollers arranged to turn about an axis at the center of the series, the surface of the rollers being provided with a series of circumferential grooves and ribs, and a lower series of rollers similarly constructed and mounted, the said series of rollers being arranged to receive the material between them, and means for rotating the carriers and for also rotating the individual rollers, substantially as set forth.

3. In a machine for separating fiber, a circular series of rollers, each roller having its surface formed with ribs and grooves, a second circular series of similar rollers below the first, means for imparting a revolution to each series of rollers, means for positively rotating each roller on its own axis, and means for feeding the fiber to said rollers.

4. In a machine for separating fiber, an upper circular series of grooved and ribbed rollers each having thereon a friction pinion, a frame for bodily revolving said rollers, a stationary friction casing engaged by the friction pinions, a lower similarl series of rollers, a revolving frame carrying them, a sta-- tionary friction casing engaged by the friction pinions of the lower series, and gearing for driving the frames carrying the two sets of rollers.

5. In a machine for separating fiber, a feed couple consisting of a roller having an elastic surface and a cooperating roller consisting of a stationary cylinder and a series of rollers working thereover.

6. In a decorticating machine, afeed co'uple consisting of a positively-driven roller and a drum having a roller surface, between which drum and roller the fiber is introduced.

7 In a machine for separating fiber, a feed couple consisting of a positively driven roller and a drum or bearing opposed thereto having its surface formed of a series of freely turning independent rollers.

8. In a machine for separating fiber, a

feed couple consisting of means for advancing the material being treated, and a co-operating drum, between which parts the material is passed, the said drum comprising a stationary support and a series of independently turning rollers arranged to move over the said stationary support.

9. In a machine for separating fiber, the combination of a feed device, means for stripping or subdividing the fiber consisting of an upper series of positively-driven grooved rollers mounted on a common axis and a lower series of positively-driven cooperating similar rollers also mounted on a common axis, and a pair of crushing rollers.

10. In a machine for separating fiber, the combination of a feed device consisting of a roller having an elastic surface 'and a drum, relatively small rollers surrounding the drum, an upper series of grooved rollers revolving as a series about a common axis and also each roller being mounted so as to be free to have an independent rotation about its own axis, a lower series of similarly-arranged and grooved mounted rollers, between which upper and lower series of rollers the. fiber is introduced from the feed mechanism and stripped, subdivided or otherwise operated upon, and a pair of crushing rollers for receiving the fiber after it leaves the threaded rollers.

11. In a machine for separating fiber, the combination of an upper circular series of grooved rollers revolving about a common axis and each having a rotation on its own axis, a lower circular series of similarly-an ranged and driven grooved rollers, means for revolving the rollers as series about their common axes and also for revolving leach roller about its own axis, a pair of crushing rollers, and means for driving the crushing rollers independently ofthe grooved rollers.

12. In a decorticating machine, a feed couple consisting of a positively-driven roller and a roller surface the latter consisting of small freely turning rollers.

13. In a decorticating machine, a feed couple consisting of means for advancing the material being treated, said means operating positively, and a roller surface, consisting of a bodily movable series of freely turning rollers, opposed thereto, between which surface and the aforesaid means the fiber is introduced.

14. In a decorticating machine, a feed couple consisting of a positively-driven roller, a roller surface consisting of a bodily movable series of freely turning rollers, and a stationary support for said roller surface.

Signed at New York city this 9th day of December 1904.

CHARLES NORMAN DAVIS.

I/Vitnesses: JOHN H. HAZELTON, I. HERBERG.

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